I'm having a hard time with the Blue 70.
I love it. I swam faster than I deserved to in it (I bought it until it ripped, then returned), and I had fun swimming faster again!
My question/statement is this:
It is more than obvious from my own experience, and MANY swimmers I've talked to, that you drop at least 3 seconds per 50 in any event wearing this suit. I know that last year I swam a morning race and went 38 without the suit, put one on and swam the same event and went 35. I sure as heck didn't taper in an hour! And I can't remember dropping 3 seconds in a 50 in recent decades.
Highly respected "people" in USMS that I have had conversations with say it is undoubtedly "legalized cheating". I agree. I'm not quite sure how or why FINA approved it. (And I'm not saying it should be banned. It is what it is.) But when a SUIT improves performance it is no longer necessarily the swimmer achieving those times.
My hubby brought up the cost as well. (I have a suit fund going, so we don't have to shell out $400 all at once, if I even buy one.) It definitely separates the haves from the have nots. There are many more Masters Swimmers who cannot afford this suit than those who can. Several of my teammates would love one but can't afford it. And while this may be more a "social" question, it is still a factor in our swimming races.
My thought, as I was looking at recent results was this: Because the B70 is such a factor in racing performance, I would love to see some kind of a notation (notice I didn't say the dreaded Barry Bonds asterisk!) next to results of swimmers who wear a B70 in a race. Or have a B70 division for all results? We already have a wetsuit division for OW, why not have a B70 division for pool races? (It is almost a wetsuit anyway!)
This past weekend I watched an already elite swimmer wear a B70 and annhilate their already super fast times. If I were a swimmer from another part of the country, I'd be thinking, "Good God, how much faster can they get?" When if fact they aren't necessarily much faster, they are now wearing a B70.
When is technology too much?
2cents
Karen
We saw one of these Blue-70's at a meet last weekend. It appeared to be the "Long John Triathlon" suit.
The swimmer wearing it was practically floating during the 500 free. And the officials didn't seem to notice.
Granted they are a sponsor of US Masters Swimming now, but shouldn't there be a label or marker on the suit to show what kind it is?
Is the B70 triathlon wet suit legal for pool use? I didn't think so ... They are much thicker and buoyant than the nero comp. Or maybe it was the point zero you saw?
Not sure. There was a lot of speculation though. Everyone said it was an open water suit.
We saw a portly, yet very good masters swimmer, with both butt cheeks riding way high out of the water.
Things that make you go Hmmm?
By the way...is the Point Zero allowed in the pool?
www.blueseventy.com/.../
The point zero is allowed in the pool. It's the one Chris uses.
There was allegedly a swimmer in a full body OW wet suit at the SCM NE Champs in Dec. 2007 that caused a bit of a stir as well ... They look decidedly different that than the nero comp. You couldn't confuse the two.
The point zero is allowed in the pool. It's the one Chris uses.
No, I use the Nero 10K which is meant for OW competition. The only difference between it and the Nero Comp is the zipper (it is fancier in the Comp version, driving the price up slightly).
The pointzero is also essentially the same suit, but the fit is different: the legs are a little looser, I think b/c it is intended for triathletes who would be wearing tri-shorts underneath. It also comes with the string attached to the zipper so you can unzip yourself (like a wetsuit). I think the sizes also match the wetsuit sizes (eg, "medium-long" or some such) rather than 26/28/30 etc of the Nero models.
Before ordering the B70 I went to a local tri store to try on the pointzero on, just to see what it felt like.
A friend of mine did compete at LCM Nationals in a pointzero.
The B70 wetsuits are not legal for pool competition (or triathlon competitions when wetsuits are not allowed, eg the Kona IM Championships).
To know that Laura and Jim are wearing them really makes me think it's "OK" as I really respect them as swimmers, and plain ol' people.
You must me referring to some other "plain ol' Jim". Laura's gonna kick your a$$ if she gets wind of this. She does not like being called "ol'" - with or without the "d". :anim_coffee:
Gull, you saw it too?! :afraid:
I've never floated one, but I'd venture a guess that it does float as it has wetsuit materials in its composition. I'm not sure if it's neoprene or something similar?
I saw that B70 rep Dean post a few times awhile ago, maybe he could answer? Again, I don't have one or I'd check the label.
Jim, I know you wear your B70 to work (as you work faster and more efficiently with it on, with less effort of course), could you check the label?
:thhbbb:
Could you imagine a group of non swimmers watching "serious" competitive swimmers test-float a suit at the pool?
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Oh, we're just seeing if the $400 suit floats."
My recollection is that it's a very thin layer of neoprene adheared to some kind of fabric be it lycra or other type. IF you've gotten the air out of it before placing in water, it is supposed to be of neutral buoyancy, that is, it does not rise to the surface if you place it under the water's surface nor does it sink to the bottom. It should therefore, stay on top of the water if you place it there (on top) to start with. I don't feel anyone can term that "floating".
Make sense?
Side note: I don't feel that mine adds buoyancy unless I pull out the fabric, away from my skin, in order to trap a bit of air between skin and suit, just prior to stepping up onto the blocks for a start. That bouyant feeling is rather fleeting - it's seemingly gone by the time I reach the other end of the pool. :cool:
We saw one of these Blue-70's at a meet last weekend. It appeared to be the "Long John Triathlon" suit.
The swimmer wearing it was practically floating during the 500 free. And the officials didn't seem to notice.
Granted they are a sponsor of US Masters Swimming now, but shouldn't there be a label or marker on the suit to show what kind it is?
Not sure. There was a lot of speculation though. Everyone said it was an open water suit.
We saw a portly, yet very good masters swimmer, with both butt cheeks riding way high out of the water.
Things that make you go Hmmm?
By the way...is the Point Zero allowed in Masters? I guess so. FINA says OK.
www.blueseventy.com/.../
The swimmer wearing it was practically floating during the 500 free. And the officials didn't seem to notice.
Presumably they would have noticed if he were floating but motionless.
